Life saving device



y 11, 1957 R. ALFANO, SR 3,33

LIFE SAVING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1965 4 01+ I IIIIIIHHI w I INVENTOR.

' I LOWS R. ALFANO, SR. B

F|G.l FIG.2 W M ffforncy United States Patent M 3,330,538 LIFE SAVINGDEVICE Louis R. Alfano, Sr., 8314 Delgany, Playa Del Rey, Calif. 90291Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 511,907 3 Claims. (Cl. 294-16) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A life saving implement for grasping a body portion of aperson in contact with an energized electric wire, including first andsecond elongated gripping members made of insulating material, a pivotalconnection of the members near their longitudinal centers, grippingportions forming handles on the rearward ends of the members, the firstmember being substantially straight throughout its length and having alaterally recessed face adjacent its forward end, the second memberhaving its forward end portion curved to form a hook with the extremitythereof engaging in the recessed face of the first member in the closedposition, so that a pulling load which is laterally imposed on thecurved portion of the second member is transferred as a longitudinalstress into the first member, and means for locking the members togetherin their closed position.

This invention relates to a life saving device, hereinafter termed a ManPuller or Man Saver for reasons which will become more fully apparentfrom the following description.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a device ofinsulating material adapted to secure the body of an individual incontact with a high voltage wire or the like for the purpose of removingthe individual to prevent further discharge of current through theindividuals body to avoid, if possible, electrocution.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it is pointedout that electrical workers, as for example, linemen, electricians andothers, who work in close contact with high voltage wiring are subjectto the constant danger of electrocution through inadvertent contact withsuch high voltage wires. Frequently, the discharge of current throughthe body of such a worker or other individual results inunconsciousness, with the body still in contact with the hot wire, and acontinuous circuit established through the body which renders touchingthe body highly dangerous to a rescuer.

The primary object of this invention is therefore, to 0 provide a devicecomprised of insulating material which will gently but firmly grasp thebody of such an individual to permit removal thereof without subjectingthe potential rescuer to thepossibility of electrocution.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an implementin the form of a pair of grasping pincers, a grasping surface of whichis of yieldable material, and thoroughly insulated to prevent theinfliction of injury to the body of the person to be rescued by theimplement, and which is of suflic-ient size and strength to permit themanipulation and movement of a body of average size.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thisnature which is extremely strong for heavy duty application, which isprovided with handles of sufficient strength to be grasped by two ormore individuals, if necessary, is sufliciently strong to preclude thepossibility of breakage, and is constructed of a non-conductivematerial.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis nature which may be simply and inexpensively manufactured in orderthat the same may be provided at a low cost as standard equipment forpower 3,330,533 Patented July ll, 1967 repair trucks, rescue squadvehicles, fire trucks, and the like.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outas the disclosure of the invention proceeds and shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein there are disclosed preferred embodimentsof this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the presently preferred form of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the gripping members of thedevice of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view showing the pivoting and lockingmeans;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of that portion of the device shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 ofFIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the hooked end of one of the grippingmembers.

Referring now to the drawings, the device of the present inventionincludes a first elongated gripping member 10 and a second elongatedgripping member 20 which are made of insulating material, and arepivotally connected by connecting means which include a bolt 30 and nut35. An additional feature of the device is the provision of lockingmeans associated with the pivotal connection means, the locking meansconsisting mainly of a tightening member 40.

The first elongated gripping member 10 is substantially straight, andhas a laterally extending gripping portion 12 formed at the rearward endthereof. The forward end is designated as 11. Adjacent the forward end11 is a gripping face 14 having a recess 15 provided therein, the recessbeing of substantially rectangular configuration. Near its longitudinalcenter the member 10 has a recess 13 which permits the pivotalinterconnection of gripping member 20 thereto. Intermediate the centralrecess 13 and recess 15 is a pad 16, whose function is to soften thegripping action of the device upon the arm, leg, neck, or other bodyportion of a person whose life is being saved by the device.

The gripping member 20 includes a straight rearward portion 23 and astraight forward portion 24, which are disposed at an angle ofapproximately 150 relative to each other. Extending forwardly of thestraight portion 24 is a curved hook portion 21, whose forward extremityis designated 22. The hook curves through an angle of approximately120".

Member 20 at its rearward end has a laterally extending gripping portion25 formed thereon. In about the longitudinal center of the straightportion 24 there is a recess 26 which permits the operative pivotalinter-engagement of the two gripping members, as best shown in FIGURE 2.The interior of the hook 21 is covered with the resilient cushioningpads 27, as illustrated in detail in the fragmentary cross-sectionalview shown in FIG- URE 6 of the drawings. Thus, the arm, leg, neck, orother body portion of the person being saved by the aid of the device isprotected from injury, by the pads 16 v and 27.

The bolt 30 has a head 31 and extends through a cylindrical opening inthe member 10, not specifically shown, in rotatable relationshiptherewith. The bolt 30 also has a keyway 32 formed in that longitudinalportion on the bolt which passes through the member 20, which keyway maypreferably also extend into the threaded end 33 of the bolt. Threadedend 33 extends from the outer surface of member 20 through the nut 35and also projects beyond the nut 35, as shown in FIGURE 3. As shown inFIGURE 5, the keyway 32 is occupied by a key 34, rigidly fastened to thebolt 30, and the necessary opening formed in the member 20 has a keywayor slot formed therein for receiving the key 34. Therefore, the bolt 30passes through the member 20 in a longitudinal sliding relationship, butis non-rotatable relative to the member 20.

It is therefore apparent that rotating the nut 35 causes the bolt 30 tohold the members and 20 more tightly or loosely together, and thetwisting or rotating action for the nut 35 is imparted relative to themember 20 rather than to the member 10.

The nut 35 has a number of teeth formed about its entire circumference.These teeth, designated 36, have a double function or purpose. Onepurpose is to more tight- -ly engage the member 20 by cutting into thesurface of the member, at least to some limited extent, as the nut istightened. The other function of the teeth is to be inter-engaged in adriving relationship with the tightening member 40.

The tightening member 40 includes an elongated handle portion 41 forcontrolling the movement of a fan-shaped operative end portion 42 havingteeth 43 formed thereon. An opening formed in the member at the focalpoint of the fan-shaped end 40 receives a fastening screw 46, which inturn engages a suitable threaded opening formed in the outer surface ofmember 20.

In the operation of the device, the locations of the recesses 13 and 26and the associated openings for receiving the bolt 30, is such that theextremity 22 of the hook 21 is received in the recess 15 when thegripping members are in their closed position. An advantage of thisstructural arrangement is that a locking action is achieved whereby thefull strength of both members 10 and may be utilized in pulling theperson from the hot wire. More specifically, a lateral load on theforward end of hook 21 is transmitted to member 10 as a longitudinalload. In the absence of this arrangement for engaging the end of thehook within the recess 15, the book could break off when attempting tomove a heavy load. The illustrated arrangement, however, prevents thisbreaking of the hook, and permits the full strength of both grippingmembers to be applied usefully to the load.

Furthermore, the locking means associated with the pivotal connectionmeans facilitates the locking of the device in order to provide themaximum pulling force. Thus, when the hook has been placed about a bodyportion of the person to be rescued, and the gripping members arebrought together in their closed position as shown in FIGURE 1, it isthen possible to further lock the gripping members by use of thetightening device 40. The rotation of the tightening device 40 causesthe nut 35 to be tightened against the member 20, pulling the boltlongitudinally and forcing the members 10 and 20 more tightly together.Then after the person has been rescued, the tightening device 40 may beused to loosen the nut so as to release the hook 21.

While my device may be made of any suitable size, I prefer an overalllength of about 4 which results in providing an opening inside the hook21, which is large enough to go about the arm, leg, or neck of a fairlylarge person.

The invention has been described in considerable detail in order tocomply with the patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of atleast one of its forms. However, such detailed description is notintended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of theinvention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support ofLetters Patent is:

1. A lift saving implement for grasping the body of an individual incontact with a hot wire, comprising:

first and second elongated gripping members of insulating material,

means pivotally connecting said members together near their longitudinalcenters,

said first member being substantially straight throughout its length andhaving a laterally recessed face adjacent its forward end,

and a flat load-engaging face between the recessed face and said pivotalconnection;

said second member having a curved forward portion whose concave sideforms a load-engaging surface which is opposed to the load-engagingsurface on the first member, the forward end of the second member beingreceived in the recessed face in the closed position of said members,whereby a lateral load on the curved portion of said second member istransmitted to said first member as a longitudinal load; and

means cooperatively associated with said pivotal connecting means forselectively locking the same so as to retain said members in theirclosed position.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the rearward ends of said members have laterally extending grippingportions formed thereon.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said pivotal connecting means includes a bolt rotatably received in anopening in said first member, said second member having an opening withassociated keyway adapted to receive said bolt, said bolt having a keyedportion received by said opening of said second member in non-rotatingrelationship therewith, said bolt 'having a threaded end which protrudesfrom said second member; and

wherein said locking means includes a circumferentially toothed nutreceived on said protruding end of said bolt, and a tightening memberpivotally carried on said second member and having a handle end and atoothed end for tightening said nut when said handle end is rotated in aplane perpendicular to said bolt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 651,121 6/1900 Potterton 294-l18X 2,404,991 7/1946 Senk 2941l8 X FOREIGN PATENTS 72,520 4/1951 Denmark.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LIFT SAVING IMPLEMENT FOR GRASPING THE BODY OF AN INDIVIDUAL INCONTACT WITH A HOT WIRE, COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED GRIPPINGMEMBERS OF INSULATING MATERIAL, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID MEMBERSTOGETHER NEAR THEIR LONGITUDINAL CENTERS, SAID FIRST MEMBER BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH AND HAVING A LATERALLYRECESSED FACE ADJACENT ITS FORWARD END, AND A FLAT LOAD-ENGAGING FACEBETWEEN THE RECESSED FACE AND SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION; SAID SECONDMEMBER HAVING A CURVED FORWARD PORTION WHOSE CONCAVE SIDE FORMS ALOAD-ENGAGING SURFACE WHICH IS OPPOSED TO THE LOAD-ENGAGING SURFACE ONTHE FIRST MEMBER, THE FORWARD END OF THE SECOND MEMBER BEING RECEIVED INTHE RECESSED FACE IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID MEMBERS, WHEREBY ALATERAL LOAD ON THE CURVED PORTION OF SAID SECOND MEMBER IS TRANSMITTEDTO SAID FIRST MEMBER AS A LONGITUDINAL LOAD; AND MEANS COOPERATIVELYASSOCIATED WITH SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY LOCKINGTHE SAME SO AS TO RETAIN SAID MEMBERS IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION.